With unbelievable penmanship,
Janz delivers gothic horror romance,
expertly done, to my doorstep.
Author: Jonathan Janz
Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications (November 18, 2022)
Publication: November 18, 2022
Pages: 174
ISBN-13: 978-1-58767-843-1
Front Cover Artwork © 2019 by Matthew Revert
Digital Design by Dan Hocker
A digital copy was sent to me from Kevin Lucia, ebook and trade paperback editor for Cemetery Dance Publications ~
5 Stars
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| Jonathan Janz |
Folks, you're looking for a great intense Gothic Horror read. Yes, yes you are. Period.
Quick synopsis ~
This twenty-four-hour tale in 1912 starts off with mild and meek Arthur Pierce, an American writer, on a train saving the day from a brute who is trying to bully his way onto a young woman.
After a quick side step, the brute is on the ground and he is introduced to this young woman by the name of Sarah Coyle.
After Sarah and Arthur had been acquainted during the train ride he agrees to accompany Sarah to her family's estate, Altrabrook. After all, he could head that way, estranged Arthur is running from a highly public affair his wife displayed/pronounced on him. And, besides, Sarah was eye candy I believe he said to himself. Not in those exact words, I'm just sayin'.
Here's what's going on, folks:
Older than dirt but kept his looks through the years, Count Richard Dunning who is rumored to dabble in bizarre religious rites and experimental medicine is to wed Sarah's younger sister, Violet, who had just turned of age. Sarah's plight is to stop this before the month's end. Yet, her father, Hubert, is eager to marry off his daughter to the wealthiest landowner because of his own financial strain.
Arriving at Altrabrook, we the readers are introduced to pretty much the slew of main characters and Arthur, being transfixed on Sarah's older sister Lizzie, let's say, charisma, this tale continues at a pace where you're fingers are turning pages. A must-be-there gathering at Count Dunning's estate, Castle Magnus, is established, and right off the rip folks, Janz keeps this pace alive and flowing onto the next set of events. Getting some understanding of history and back-story while at the gathering, The story moves.
And during this time, you get to read some of the best gothic horror telling you could read. Depicted on paper and ink, visually the events are graphically displayed in your mind's eye as colorful as you could smell the atmosphere the characters are going through. The characters' dialect with one another was from an era I am personally not familiar with, but I'm telling you, the enjoyment I had, as I listened to them and watch them go through their horror was worth my time.
After the must-be-gathering, we eventually are on the top floors of Castle Magnus where all the wrinkles get ironed out and all the pretty ends get sewn together, so we as readers, get the jest behind everything. People falling in love, out of love, bug-eyed from gasp of reality setting in, smiles, frowns, hanging on to last words, tears, and even laughter were abundant on the upper floors. This story of a young couple enveloped in a nightmare and their perseverance so they could put an end to this horror they were living through, you are hooked. Rooting for them and wishing for God's speed would come naturally if you have an ounce of humanity in ya.
In the end, the whole reason for Count Dunning's panache in wanting Violet's hand in marriage, the reasoning behind dad's (& mom's[they're married]) financial strain, Sarah's beliefs, the town folk's thinking of the local lore and gossip of Count Richard Dunning's age and his shenanigans? and all about Lizzie and Arthur are answered satisfyingly. You will definitely love this read folks.
The ending almost comes to a fairy-tale ending for some, almost.
Really a quick read folks, so, I highly suggest reading this and bypassing your tbr.
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Here's where you can get your fingers on The Dismembered:
- Amazon ~ Audiobook $14.95 ~ Paperback $16.99 ~ Audio CD $21.95 ~ USD
- IndieBound ~ Support your local bookstores
About the author:
Connect with Jonathan
Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels. He is represented for Film & TV by Ryan Lewis (executive producer of Bird Box). His work has been championed by authors like Josh Malerman, Caroline Kepnes, Stephen Graham Jones, Joe R. Lansdale, and Brian Keene.
His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year.
He also teaches high school Film Literature, Creative Writing, and English. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.
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